Axle-box for vehicles.



No. 674,8l7. Patented ay 2|, mm. H. 0. SMITH;

AXLE BOX FOR VEHICLES.

' (Application filed July 9, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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FFICE.

PATENT HOMER D. SMITH, OF LARIMORE, NORTH DAKOTA.

AXLE-BOX FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 674,817, dated May 21,1901.

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOMER D. SMITH, of Larimore, county of Grand Forks,State of North Dakota, have inverted certain new and useful Improvementsin Axle=Boxes for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for use in connection with a vehicleaxle box or bushing used between the wheel-hub and the axlespindle.Heretofore it has been customary to take up the wear between the box andspindle by inserting washers between the collar at the inner end of thespindle and the box. ln this way longitudinal movement of the box may beprevented; but the washers tend to throw the box out of its normalposition on the spindle and permit dust and dirt to enter between theinner end of the box and the spindle. If the washers are put on theouter end of the spindle, there being on the ordinary axle no holder orguard for more than one, any additional washers will soon be stretchedby the box so that they will slip over over the end of the same,rendering it necessary, in order that the box may be kept tight,to renewthe washers every few days. Another objection to the use of washers atthe inner end of the box arises from the fact that the axle-box spindleis usually tapered to correspond to a similar tapered surface on thespindle. Consequently when the position of the box on the spindle ischanged by the insertion of washers at its inner end the relationbetween the tapered surfaces will not be maintained and undue lateralmovement of the box permitted.

One object therefore of my invention is to provide means for guardingand holding the washers in place on the outer end of the spin die toprevent them from being stretched out of shape or dislodged by theaxle-box.

A further object is to provide means for rendering an axle-box dirt anddust proof even after it has been in use several years.

A further object is to provide dust-proof means for taking up the wearand consequent lost motion of the axle-box without changing the originalposition of the box and its axlespindle.

The invention consists generally in various constructions andcombinations, all as here- Application filed July 9, 1900. Serial No.22,913. (No model.)

inafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a longi tudinal sectional view of an axle hub and box embodying myinvention. Figs. 2 and 3 are details of the ring interposed between thebox and locking-nut. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a modifiedconstruction of the ring and nut.

In the drawings, 2 represents a wheel-hub, 3 the axle, and A the taperedaxle-spindle, provided at its inner end with the annular shoulder or rib5 and the collar 6, having the annular groove 7,wherein a quantity ofgrease may be placed. 8 represents the axle-box, having itsinner surfacetapered to correspond with the tapered surface of the shoulder 5 and aflange 10 to overlap the grooved collar 6. A flat washer 11 is usuallyprovided between the shoulder 9 and the collar. As the axle-spindle andthe box become Worn several washers are usually inserted between thecollar 6 and the shoulder 9, and as each additional washer is insertedthe box will be moved a corresponding distance nearer the outer end ofthe spindle and the inner end of the same exposed to the entrance ofdust and dirt. To obviate this difficulty, I prefer to provide a ring12, adapted to fit over the end of the spindle, and between which andthe outer end of the box one or more washers 13 may be placed. Thesewashers take up the lost motion occasioned by the wearof the box andspindle and retain the box in its original position on the axle. As thewear on the box and spindle increases it is necessary simply to insertmore washers between the ring and the outer end of the box.

The ring 12 is preferably provided with a tapered surface 14:, adaptedto fit snugly with in a flange 15 on the locking-nut 16, so that whenthe nut is removed from the spindle the ring will slip off with it andrender it unnecessary for the operator to remove the ring with thefingers. The ring is also provided with a flange 17, adapted to overlapthe end of the box and form a guard or holder for the washers to preventthem from being stretched out of shape and pushed out of their properposition by the axle-box.

Fig. 1 of the drawings represents an axle box and spindle that areconsiderably worn, and a recess 18 is shown in the hub, wherein theflange on the nut is adapted to fit before the spindle and box are wornsufficiently to necessitate the insertion of the ring. After the ringhas been placed on the spindle the flange 17 will enter the recess, andas the said flange is wider than the flange on the nut I prefer toprovide a series of teeth 19 in its edge, which will dig into the huband form a depression therein of sufficient depth to permit the ring tobe inserted over the end of the spindle.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a slight modification of the device, whichconsists in providing a ring with a series of dowel-pins 20 to fitwithin holes in the lock-nut 21, that is designed particularly forwagons where the flange 15 is usually omitted. The pins 20 fit snuglywithin the holes in the nut, so that the ring may be easily removed fromthe spindle upon the removal of the nut. At the inner end of theaxle-box on the shoulder or rib 5 I have shown a thin ring 22, that Iprefer to place thereon after the box and shoulder have become worn fromuse to prevent lateral movement of the box on the spindle. As the wearon the box and spindle increases additional washers may be placedbetween the ring and box, so that regardless of the length of time thebox and axle may have been in use it can be always kept in its originalposition on the spindle. The ring may, if preferred, be formedintegrally with the lockingnut, or the flange provided on the nut may belengthened to overlap the end of the box regardless of the wearthereon,and a suitable shoulder provided within the flange, betweenwhich and the box the washers may be placed. This modification inconstruction I inner end, of a box provided on said spindle andoverlapping said shoulder, and a flat ring adapted to be placed on saidspindle over said shoulder or rib to take up the space caused by wearbetween said rib and box, substan- V tially as described.

2. The combination, with an axle-spindle 4, of a box thereon, a ring 12adapted to fit over the end of said spindle and having on one side aflange to overlap the interposed washer or washers and the outer end ofsaid box and on the opposite side provided with a tapered flangedsurface 14, a locking-nutfor the threaded end of said spindle, and aflange 15 provided on said nut and forming a socket to receive theflanged surface 14 and wherein said surface is snugly wedged, for thepurpose specified.

3. The combination, with an axle-spindle, of a box thereon, alocking-nut, a ring interposed between said box and said nut and havinga flange adapted to overlap the ends of the box and one or more washersplaced between said ring and box, and said flange having a toothed orserrated edge to engage the end of the hub, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of June,1900.

HOMER D. SMITH.

In presence of- A. STONEHOUSE, O. F. PETERSON.

